"I read 26 novels from start to finish, from A-Z, and felt proud of myself for sticking to it!"
How I did it: About two-and-a-half years ago, I wrote in my journal that I could not find a currently-written novel that would hold my interest. I thought contemporary literature was in deplorable shape. When I found this goal on 43T, I thought, Well, it can't hurt to broaden my reading horizons.
I limited myself to reading novels published in the year 2000 or more recently, and I read them in alphabetical order (by author's last name). Having these three constraints really did broaden my reading horizons. I chose authors I would not normally have chosen. I ended up with a pretty balanced list between male and female authors. My three favorite books were:
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
- Three Junes by Julia Glass
- The Ambidextrist by Peter Rock
- Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman
(Okay, so that's four favorites.) I hadn't read anything by any of these authors before, so I discovered them through doing this challenge, and I would gladly read another book by any of them.
My faith in the state of the novel was restored. I would definitely do this challenge again. And not only did I discover that really well-crafted novels are still being published, but also I gained a great sense of personal accomplishment by reading all 26 books clear to their very last word. (Too often I've been a fickle and nonmonogamous reader and tossed a book aside the moment my wandering eye thought another book looked better.)
As I was nearing the end, I allowed myself to read a couple of older novels that were published prior to the year 2000. I plan to do this challenge again, but I would include some poetry and some nonfiction, and definitely include some classics.
Lessons & tips: Have fun with it!
- Go to the bookstore and browse. When I was feeling flush, I'd go to a new book store. When I was feeling short on cash, I'd go to a used book store. I deliberately did not buy books ahead of where I was in the alphabet - the trip to a book store every few weeks was part of the fun.
- I looked at lists of literary prize winners on Powells.com for ideas of novels to look at when I went to the book store.
- Read steadily, every day. This challenge took me 25 months to complete, but that includes some time out to read a few other books in between some of these novels.
- I have my Rule of One Hundred Pages: I will stick with a book for 100 pages, and if I am just not into it by that point, I will choose another one. So there were a few in this challenge that didn't make the cut (a Q author, a V author...). I feel it is good to stick with a goal and see it through, but there's no point in becoming a martyr over your reading list. Reading's what you do for pleasure - so keep it fun.
Resources:
- Lists of literary prize winners (Pulitzer, National Book Award, Orange Prize, etc.). I used Powells.com, but these lists can be found other places as well.
- The "Staff Picks" bookshelf at one local shop
- Occasionally, a New York Times book review moved me toward choosing a particular book.
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Feb 08, 09:28PM PST
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